I have started to take an interest in golf and although I have not played a round of golf for a…read morewhile, I do love going to the driving range. And the driving range at the Queslett Park Golf Centre is pretty good. The range itself is pretty wide and each bay is very spacious. All the bays are outside with high quality mats and balls. Clubs are available to hire but I have used my father's clubs every time I have been to the driving range here. The course at Queslett Park Golf Centre is nine holes and 70% of the holes are under 100 yards. There are however plenty of water hazards and bunkers. You've been warned. I haven't actually played the nine hole course but I have had look at it. Because the majority of holes are under 100 yards, this is not a bad place to start for an amateur golfer. Golf lessons are available and to find out more visit the website above.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort Lichfield Rd, Sutton Coldfield…read more B76 9PR, United Kingdom Phone: +44 1675 238600 www.thebelfry.com We had a chance to stop by the historic Belfry on our way from Chester to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see the course and spend a fair amount of money in the pro shop. The course was impressive even though I was able to see just a few holes and the pro shop well-stocked with fairly reasonably priced gear. I bought a few hats, a waterproof pullover, and a few other items for me and my two sons. The pullover is perfect for the cool, wet days in the UK as well as our home in the Pacific Northwest, keeping me dry and reminding me of our trip to the Belfry every time I wear it. I will be sure to bring my clubs on our next trip to the area so I can play their three courses: The Brabazon, home of four Ryder Cups and one of the best courses in the UK; PGA National with its inland links appearance, fast-running fairways and cavernous bunkers; and The Derby, a par 70 parkland golf course. CombatCritic Gives The Belfry Hotel & Resort 10 Bombs Out Of 10 ... HOOAH!

Gutted but have just come back from a stay and sad to say it will be my last... Ive been coming for…read morea few years now but the last few stays I have been in rooms that have a real damp, mouldy smell. This last stay was the worst. We were in a family room (had booked the family package) and the room smelt so bad I didnt sleep well and woke up feeling really dirty. My son couldnt smell it at first but when he got into bed he could. Its so bad I wonder if there is black damp behind the paper/paint. The room was also incredibly dirty. See pics. There were crumbs in the bed and all over the floor. I did tell the receptionist but she said she could only move us to another room in the building next to us and it will be exactly the same. She was a little patronising and made me feel bad for mentioning it. Last couple of minor bits... Flies at dinner and at breakfast, lots around the food. No conditioner and they didnt have any on site. So note that when you see they say they have toiletries that doesnt include conditioner. You have to pay for anything other then black coffee at breakfast, never ever had to pay for a latte but apparently its a specialty coffee so extra charge of a fiver. Bought a latte in the golf place next to the kids green and it was awful. Had two sips and left the rest. Despite having the family package I had to ask for the kids golf tickets, the sweet cart tokens etc. it was only because I had read up beforehand that I knew what was included. Oh and the picture shows a teddy and kids activity pack, the two kids with me didnt get anything. Lots of building work going on at the min. Hoping it will be somewhere new to sleep that will be fresh and clean. The kids go karts and the stuff on the green are good but not good enough to make us return. £18 each for a childs dinner buffet (not including drinks) is a little extortionate, as is charging a service charge on drinks when you have to go to the bar because nobody serves you. Could be an amazing place but needs work.

A tough and very challenging golf course. You can play a round of 18 holes at Hill Top Golf Course…read morebut you also have the option of playing nine holes. This is a golf course I have been to twice and being an amateur golfer, I did find it difficult. However I did have fun at the same time. If you are playing 18 holes, it can take at least 3-5 hours to complete. It could even take 6 hours if you are a beginner. There are many holes over the 300 yards mark so it might be worth going to a driving range before coming here. The greens are not in bad condition although I did come across litter on some of the holes I played. Hill Top Golf Course is very popular and the golfers I have spoken to have said they love coming here. The course is a challenge but if you get it right on the day, it could be a day you remember for a long time. You can of course bring along your own golf clubs or hire them from the clubhouse. The choice is yours.

HillTop is a very challenging course where, as the name suggests, you are playing around a lot of…read morehills! This means it can be a tiring course, particularly if you are as wayward a golfer as me and often find yourself taking the scenic route to the hole. There are, however, mitigating circumstances for occasional waywardness as HillTop is quite an exposed course and can be all but unplayable on a windy day. Did I mention it's on top of a hill? Well, that obviously increases the wind factor considerably. Compared to other municipal courses in the city HillTop is relatively quiet so you rarely have a problem getting a tee-time, even in summer months. I suspect that this is partly to do with the fact that it's a little tucked away and off the beaten track compared to other urban courses. It's very near to the West Bromwich Albion ground, so you may want to check their fixtures before you go as you could end up in traffic on your way there and miss your tee-off. The clubhouse is decent and you can get a very good and welcome cup of tea and a bacon sandwich before or after your round. My advice when playing here is to take waterproof or windproof clothing for the weather, and either take or hire a trolley for the hills. Oh, and one hole has an electricity pylon in the middle of the fairway - you don't see that at Augusta.

Birmingham is dotted with great golf courses but one of my favourite is this one in Licky Hills. It…read moreis stunningly attractive, not only because it offers one of the best views of Birmingham but it is situated in one of the most picturesque spots of the UK. The course is shadowed in parts by massive pine trees, jolly green giants towering above you while you balance your next shot. The greens are superbly maintained by a dedicated team of expert gardeners who clearly take pride in their results. The course is run by Birmingham city council so contact them for more details of this stunning golf course, there might be a waiting list!

A most pleasant golf course to play, visually stunning and requiring mental and physically input…read more Five par threes have no problem making one look foolish, at least four par fours that can take shots off you with out trying to hard. All this is put together by a dedicated team on a shoe string budget, I have a friend travel from Oxford three days a week to play at the Lickyhills 130 miles round trip, says a good a test as most private courses nearer home, with the course condition not far removed. Thanks guys

Birmingham boasts many pretty impressive golf courses. I've played a round or two at Warley Woods…read moreover the years and I am impressed with the course. Beautifully maintained 18 hole course is looked after by a small, dedicated team, some of which are volunteers. There's a Pavilion which is a public building with a cafe offering a delicious breakfast and toilets. It's home to the Club house and golf coaching is offered by resident professional Greg Lynch. Greg takes on individual clients including groups and he occasionally offers drop sessions. There may be a charge so best to check before turning up. The Pavilion is open all year round except Christmas Day.

9-hole golf course really close to the centre of Brum. Nestled just past Bearwood in the middle of…read moreWarley Woods Park, this is a good quality pay-and-play course for all-comers. Also boasts an excellent greasy spoon café for egg and chips on those chillier days. The holes are mostly a decent length with a couple of gentle par 3's and some more demanding 400+ par 4's. The greens are well-groomed and the bunkers pretty well maintained. Not too much rough to go trapsing through, and the hilly lie of the course means you get a good workout, too. At £7.50 to go round, it's well worth a visit.

Fancy a swing? Then this is the place…read more This is a driving range place where I think it has 14 bays for right and left handed players. The grass is cut and maintained well, the customer service is great and they also have a on site trainer who charges approx £30 per lesson. £5 for 100 balls.

From the owner: Four Ashes Golf Centre is a place for all of the family. We have an 18 hole Adventure Golf, 28 bay…read morefloodlight Driving Range, Cafe with Licensed bar and Function Room, Personal Training Studio, Golf Superstore, Club Repair service as well as a Golf Academy with 3 friendly PGA Professional teachers for your golf.

First go at a gym in a long while. My friend has become a member and I was able to accompany her…read moreon a free friend pass. The gym is situated upstairs with the ground floor consisting of a cafe/bar and locker room with showers. The entrance includes club information on weightwatchers, tribute nights and family discos. The gym has up to date equipment which you can log into and set goals. The big perk is the large open windows facing the golf course providing a lovely view as you work out.

This is one of the best municipal golf courses in the city, and certainly one of the trickiest and…read morelongest. I'm not sure what they do differently at Pype Hayes compared to the other public courses in the city, but this one always seems to be in slightly better nick than the others, and particularly in winter when the others can get very, very boggy and wet. Perhaps the soil is different over there near Walmley and therefore the whole course drains a wee bit better. It's a full 18 hole course and, unlike public courses such as Harborne and Boldmere, you will definitely need to know your way around a driver if you hope to get round with a fairly decent score. It's a LONG course. The greens are always in good condition and are surrounded by often tricky hazards. One of the best things about Pype Hayes is that you turnaround at the club house, so you can nip in for the loo, or for a quick break over a cup of tea before you resume.

Of all the municipal golf courses in Birmingham this is probably my least favourite. I find it a…read morelittle dull and flat and quite repetitive. However, there is one particular reason that you probably should play there: Planes! This course is located just off the Coventry Road, and when you say Coventry Road to Brummies, they don't think of Coventry: They think Airport. The massive expanse of Birmingham International Airport is literally next door to this golf course so you are playing to the occasional sound of large, commercial aircraft taking off and landing. It does make for a few surreal moments around the course as you line up a shot. Professional players are almost never disturbed as they prepare their next move, but hapless amateurs such as me are often on this course given to pause before they hack their next shot into the long grass and swear loudly. Out of the corner of your eye, just as you prepare to swing, you will often be as close to a landing jumbo jet as you will ever be. You can sometimes even see the passengers laughing at you.

This one is right next to Birmingham airport, so perhaps you've got a few hours to kill between…read moreflights, or want to make a day of your first holiday day, who knows, but this one's just round the corner. For those bandits amongst you, you'll be pleased to hear that this one requires a good drive off the tee, with some real wide open fairways, which are quite scenic actually. Great clubhoouse! Oh yes, also, i suppose worth mentioning is the practice area on grass which this site has, which is quite unusual and useful beofre a game perhaps.

Easy walking distance from The Alcester Road and The Billseley pub. I've not played golf here but…read morewent for a birthday party-you can hire then venue out and food, music and a bar can be provided. The gold club offers asocial membership as well as one for full members. Reasonable bar selection, plenty of parking and great views from the club house.

I've played here a number of times as a guest of friends who are members. As someone used to…read moreplaying 99% of my golf on public courses it really is a treat to play here. When compared to public courses the greens here are ludicrously fast and take a fair bit of getting used to - this is surely down to the extra care and attention these greens get. They are fast! In addition to the pace of the greens the holes are really well protected by bunkers, making this a tricky course for the first time visitor. As this is a private club there are certain rules of dress and etiquette that may catch you out. I turned up once in white socks - this is a no-no. I also once made the mistake of walking into the bar wearing a hat, and then making a phone call - both of these are also frowned upon. Thankfully these were the extent of my transgressions and I was invited back by my fee-paying friends. If you get the chance to play here then I would jump at it. It's a different ball game to the public courses and, if you're like me and have no intention of ever joining a club, this is a rare chance to see what the inside of a golf club looks like.